Gov. Kitzhaber seeks renewal of wind energy credit

Warning that tens of thousands of jobs are at stake, governors in wind energy states are calling on Congress to renew an expiring tax break.

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber said at a teleconference Tuesday that uncertainty over the future of the wind energy production tax credit already has hurt the industry — which employs 75,000 people and drives more than $10 billion a year in economic development.

Branstad and Kitzhaber lead the Governor’s Wind Energy Coalition, which represents 28 states.

The credit was first signed by President George H.W. Bush and backed by a number of prominent Republicans.

But it stalled in Congress this summer amid opposition from conservative House Republicans, who argued it was wasteful spending.